Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders
What Are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)?
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) encompass a wide range of conditions affecting the body's musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, and spinal structures.
Common MSDs in the Workplace:
● Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Compression of the median nerve in the wrist due to repetitive hand movements, commonly seen in manufacturing and office work.
● Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons caused by repetitive motion, frequent in assembly line jobs.
● Rotator Cuff Injuries: Damage to the shoulder tendons, prevalent among construction and warehouse workers lifting heavy objects.
● Lumbar Disc Herniation: A spinal disorder affecting workers engaged in frequent bending and lifting.
● Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): Nerve and blood vessel damage caused by long-term exposure to vibrating tools, common in mining and construction.
When Do Musculoskeletal Disorders Occur?
MSDs develop over time due to biomechanical stress on the body. These disorders are commonly linked to:
● Repetitive Movements: Constant hand, wrist, or arm motions that strain muscles and tendons.
● Prolonged Static Postures: Holding the same position for extended periods, leading to stiffness and decreased circulation.
● Excessive Force and Overexertion: Lifting heavy objects without proper technique, increasing stress on the spine and joints.
● Mechanical Vibrations: Long-term use of power tools or machinery, affecting nerve and muscle function.
Some examples of Industry-Specific MSD risks are:
● Manufacturing: Assembly line workers and machine operators often perform highly repetitive tasks, leading to tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and rotator cuff injuries due to excessive strain on the hands, wrists, and shoulders.
● Mining: Drilling operators exposed to high-frequency vibrations may suffer from Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), causing nerve damage.
● Logistics & Warehousing: Forklift operators sitting for extended hours are prone to lumbar spondylosis, a degenerative spine condition.
● Construction: Masons, carpenters, and ironworkers frequently engage in repetitive lifting, overhead work, and prolonged kneeling, increasing their risk of lower back pain, knee osteoarthritis, and shoulder impingement syndrome.
● Oil & Gas: Workers performing pipefitting tasks in confined spaces often adopt awkward postures, leading to chronic musculoskeletal pain.
How Do Musculoskeletal Disorders Affect Workplace Safety and Productivity?
MSDs are among the leading causes of workplace injuries and absenteeism, costing businesses billions annually in lost productivity, compensation claims, and medical expenses.
Organisation with workers suffering from MSDs experience:
● Increased Workplace Injuries – MSDs cause pain, stiffness, and fatigue, making workers more prone to accidents, slips, and falls, especially in high-risk industries like construction and manufacturing.
● Reduced Work Efficiency – Employees suffering from chronic pain or restricted mobility take longer to complete tasks, leading to slower operations and decreased productivity.
● Higher Absenteeism & Turnover – Workers with severe MSDs may require medical leave or even leave their jobs permanently, causing disruptions and increasing hiring and training costs.
● Greater Risk in High-Intensity Jobs – In construction, frequent lifting of heavy loads and use of vibrating tools lead to back pain and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), affecting work performance and safety.
● In manufacturing, repetitive motions in assembly lines can result in carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, slowing production.
● Increased Compensation & Healthcare Costs – Organizations face higher expenses due to medical treatments, compensation claims, and lost work hours, impacting overall business profitability.
How do viAct’s Ergonomic Assessment Software Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders?
AI-powered ergonomic solution from viAct use computer vision, motion tracking, and video analytics to detect ergonomic risks in real-time and provide automated safety interventions.
viAct’s AI-Driven Prevention Strategies for Musculoskeletal Disorders are:
● Awkward Posture Detection:
Vision AI monitors body angles, identifying excessive bending of the neck, back, or arms beyond ergonomic safety limits. Workers receive real-time alerts to adjust posture.
● Unsafe Lifting Posture Monitoring:
AI video analytics tracks movements to ensure proper squat vs. bend techniques, preventing lower back injuries from incorrect lifting.
● Prolonged Static Posture Analysis:
AI detects workers maintaining fixed postures too long, a key risk for MSDs. Automated reminders encourage micro-movements to improve blood circulation.
● AI-Powered MSD Risk Assessment:
viAct’s AI-powered ergonomic assessment software calculates ergonomic risk scores based on RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) methodologies, ensuring compliance with OSHA guidelines.
● Automated Ergonomic Training & Feedback:
Generative AI provides real-time safety insights, guiding workers on corrective ergonomic actions based on job-specific tasks.
The Future of Workplace Ergonomics with AI
The integration of AI-driven ergonomic assessments is revolutionizing workplace safety, shifting from reactive injury management to proactive injury prevention.
The key benefits of AI-Powered Ergonomics Risk Assessments for MSDs:
● Early Risk Detection: Identifies MSD risks before they cause injuries.
● Worker-Specific Recommendations: Customizes ergonomic improvements per individual worker movements.
● Regulatory Compliance: Ensures alignment with global ISO, OSHA, and HSE guidelines.
● Cost Savings: Reduces medical expenses, compensation claims, and lost productivity.
As industries prioritize worker well-being, MSD Risk Assessments are becoming an essential tool for ensuring safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.
Article by
Dr. Dorothy Dutta
Marketing Strategist
Dr. Dorothy Dutta serves as the Marketing Strategist at viAct, where her passion for research drives her mission to highlight the pivotal role of AI in advancing safety solutions. She is dedicated to translating complex concepts into compelling narratives that showcase technology’s impact on real-world practices. Outside of work, Dorothy enjoys unwinding with fiction, exploring diverse stories that spark her imagination and curiosity.